Improvement in railroad-switches



' joined with fish-bars to the siding-rail.

THOMAS .I REYNOLDS, OE wATsEKA, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR OE ONE-HALE` HIs RIGHT TO wILLIAM D. GUERNsEY, OE TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,890, dated May 2., 1876; application filed February 19, 1876. y

To all 'whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, THOMAS J REYNOLDS, of Watseka, in the count-y of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Im- The object ot' my invention is to so construct' a railroad-switch that the cars will not be thrown from the track in whatever direction the cars may be moving if th'e switch-rails,

should be misplaced; and'consists in thexarrangement of two pointed switch-rails joined with a single bridle, the short'switch-rail operated through its connection to the l-ong switch-rail by said bridle, thelong switch-rail heilig controlled by a'spring-lever, as is shown in the patent No. 145,013 granted to me Nove1nber.25, 1573. By this arrangement ot' switch-rails the ilange on the car-wheel opens and closes the switch-rails, as is hereinafter described.

The ligure is a perspective view of a rail road-switch embodying my invention.

A is the long and pointed switch-rail joined to the rail of the main track with ish-bars, the

pointed end litting against the rail B, which is bentot the proper curvature to allow of a smooth connection, asis shown in the drawing. C is the short and pointed switch-rail a a a are plates passing under the switch-rails and under the rails of the track, these plates serving as bearings for the switch-rails, and, so

j bent as to prevent the switch-rails from jumping. D is a bridle connectingthetwo switchrails. rail A with the spring-lever Gr at the target, said target being similar in construction and E is a rod. connecting the long switchv and, through the medium of the bridle, force the switch-rail A to the main rail B. Should the cars be on the siding and the switch closed t'or the main track, as shown in the drawing,

and't-he cars moving to the main track, the flange of the wheelpresses the long switchrail A from the rail B, and, at the same time, through the swtch-railsconnection, (the bridle,) forces the -switch-rail C ,to the main rail F.

The main object in the construction of this SWtchis that the flange of the wheel shall act as a wedge or lever in operating the switch, and that the switch cannot be broken or the carsthrown from the track if the switch-rails aremisplaced. Thespringbeingstrongenough to throw the switch', and yetto allow ofthe operation of the switch-rails by the flanges on the wheels.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a railroad-switch, the combination of the. two pointed switch-rails A C, bridle, rod E, spring-lever G, and plates a a a, with the main and siding rails,- a.-s shown and described.

2. The plates a a a., in combination with the switch and main rails, substantially as shownv and described.

THOMAS J. REYNOLDS.v

, Witnesses LEVI P. GRAHAM, JNO. W. LYON.

OEFIoE.4 

